Research and the URG
Early in the club's history, underwater research was a focal point of the Club diving activity. Copies of the club Bulletin from the earlier years document many research projects, including articles on how to conduct basic research.
In the last few years, the Club has now again returned to research, with several projects having been completed. Underwater research conducted is "community based" research. Whilst we adhere to the basic principles for conducting scientific research, we adopt research projects and designs which are simple, pragmatic, and allow for a broad range of membership to become involved. Whilst URG does boast several members who are excellent at fish identification, this is not a prerequisite for participating. There are research roles for underwater photographers, data recorders, water and substrate sample collecting, equipment and boat handling.
Grey Nurse Shark Research
Throughout the years the Club has been involved in regular surveys of grey nurse shark numbers at two Sydney dive locations.
Magic Point - Maroubra
Long Reef
Our research is part of a larger initiative being run and coordinated by NSW Fisheries, who are working to devise a plan to help this species recover from its current near extinction levels.
Refer to the NSW Fisheries project site for more details
This project is not ready to enter its next phase. The URG's role is likely to expand in the future, as a Grey Nurse Shark tagging program has been approved, making accurate reports of sightings of tagged (and untagged) sharks even more important.
View the grey nurse photo gallery
Balmoral Net Marine Growth Monitoring
The URG has commenced a research project to observe and record the re-generation of marine life upon the newly replaced Balmoral bath netting.
Review this projects' progress here
North Harbour Aquatic Reserve (NHAR) - Biodiversity & Caulerpa Study
During year 2002, the Club was awarded a grant from The Australian Government Envirofund to conduct a biodiversity in Sydney Habour's northern aquatic reserve. This study is currently underway, and ongoing details and results from this study will be posted to this web site. The URG has completed a similar study in the Port Hacking Estuary. This study is different from our past research, in that we have additional research objectives to locate, and assist NSW Fisheries eradicate the invasive algae "Caulerpa Taxifolia"
Caulerpa Taxifolia Image
